Does anyone else have a problem picking up lobster pots with their rudder. I sail a Dockrell 27 Cutter, which has a full keel with the rudder hung off the end. Over the last several years I have picked up four pots on three different days. None of them a good time to go for a swim. What happens each time is that the line catches in the little notch between the keel and rudder, then the buoy gets pulled down to the bottom of the rudder (4'8" draft). Of course I watch for and avoid the pots, it seems to happen when I am checking the chart or focused elsewhere for a moment. Of course the black floats last time weren't real visible to begin with.
Any ideas on clearing a pot from a keel? Last time it happened was in light fog as we were in rough water and 4 knot current at the Race off Long Island. Not a good time for a swim and the boat hook sank as I tried to clear the jam.
Last time I actually picked up a second buoy as I was trying to clear the first(exactly the kind of time that expletives exist for).
I was thinking of making an fiber glass block and glassing it over the notch. Can anyone think of a reason not to do this? Any suggestions would be appreciated.